Agenda item

Chatham Central

Outline application with some matters reserved (landscaping) for the construction of 14 residential apartments with associated parking. 

Discussion:

The Planning Manager outlined the planning application in detail.

With the agreement of the Committee, Councillor Maple spoke on this planning application as Ward Councillor and raised the following issues:

·         Condition 19 refers to the provision of a Parking Management Plan and he questioned how this will be managed.

·         Whether there could be dialogue with relevant Ward Councillors on:

-       the proposed Section 106 funding for improvements at Victoria Gardens and/or Perry Street and/or Chalk Pit Open Space.

-       the proposed Section 106 funding for Primary education on the basis that there are several other infant schools located closer to the application site than those listed in the report.

-       the proposed Section 106 funding for Secondary education on the basis that there are other secondary schools located closer to the application site than those listed in the report, although it was acknowledged that this was not as pressing as the funding for infant education.

·         Concerns as to security for other properties surrounding the application site.

·         The start and finish times of the construction work should ideally be regulated with a later start time and early finish, having regard to the location of the site being on a busy heavily trafficked junction.

In response, the Planning Manager advised that it was possible to add an informative to any planning permission that there be liaison with Ward Councillors concerning construction start and finish times.

The Head of Planning advised that if the Committee was minded to approve the planning application, if the Committee was prepared to agree the level of financial contributions set out in the proposed Section 106 agreement, the location of the areas and schools to benefit could be subject to discussion with relevant Ward Councillors. However, he stressed that there may be specific reasons why particular schools had been named as beneficiaries of the Section 106 funding.

A Member sought clarification concerning the management of the parking areas set aside for residents of the development and the taxi rank and the Planning Manager confirmed that this would be addressed at the Reserved Matters stage.

Decision:

Approved subject to:

a)            The applicant entering into a legal agreement under the terms of Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to secure:

i.              £14,960.00 on improvements at locations to be agreed in consultation with local Ward Councillors.

ii.            £3,498.60 towards the repair and maintenance of footpaths adjacent to Chatham Naval Memorial.

iii.        £6,551.30 towards improvements to Bryant Street Surgery Chatham.

iv.        £15,641.60 towards Nursery (£1,996.80) and Primary (£5,990.40) Secondary (£7,654.40) with the primary/infant/secondary schools to benefit being agreed in consultation with relevant Ward Councillors.

v.         £3,130.12 towards strategic measures in respect of the coastal North Kent Special Protection Area.

vi.        Meeting the Council’s costs.

b)            Conditions 1 – 19 as set out in the report for the reasons stated in the report.

c)            The inclusion of informatives concerning:

1.             Ensuring boundaries around the site provide security to existing residents.

2.             To ensure the Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) is drafted in liaison with Ward Councillors.

3.             The Reserved Matters Application address maintenance of parking area.